Ablett is locked away by Gold Coast for two more seasons, so he won't be going anywhere. But given their choice of bringing any player into their club, seven coaches declared Ablett to be their first choice.

This time last year, Lance Franklin was the most desired player in the competition and this time around, there were three votes for the Hawthorn superstar.

Franklin becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is being heavily courted by Greater Western Sydney. If he was to join the Giants, he would join budding champion forward Jeremy Cameron who also attracted three votes.

But as it stands the Hawks would only receive one compensatory pick in exchange for Franklin, should he leave as a free agent. In all likelihood, that pick will come immediately after the club's first-round selection which, given Hawthorn's expected strong showing this year, will come towards the end of the first round.

The 2013 AFL coaches survey was conducted by AFL Media in partnership with the AFL Coaches Association.